Cheese is a popular food among humans, and it’s easy to understand why. Cheese is nutrient-rich, low cost, and most people enjoy the taste of it. That’s why many Pitbull owners ask “can you feed cheese to your Pitbulls?”
The short answer is yes—it’s perfectly safe to feed cheese to your Pitbulls. But there are lots of questions surrounding cheese and its effects on Pitbulls. Will answer every question you have about feeding cheese to your Pitbulls.
Let’s start with the first and most important question:
Is cheese safe for Pitbulls?
Yes, cheese is safe for Pitbulls in moderation. However, there are a few things you need to know in order to ensure your Pitbull stays healthy.
First, don’t feed your Pitbull cheese that has added ingredients that are harmful to Pitbulls (like onion or chocolate). Second, introduce it slowly and make sure you’re serving only small pieces at a time. This allows you to watch for any abnormal signs, which is really important because some Pitbulls can have a food intolerance or allergic reaction to certain foods, such as cheese. If you observe any abnormal symptoms after eating cheese, like diarrhea or vomiting, take your Pitbull to the vet immediately.
Remember—if you’re going to give your Pitbull cheese, only do it occasionally and always serve it in small quantities.
Benefits of feeding cheese in Pitbulls
While cheese is often a controversial topic in the world of Pitbull ownership, here are some of its benefits:
Protein: Cheese contains several amino acids that help Pitbulls grow, repair tissue, and build muscle.
Essential fatty acids: Cheese provides the essential fatty acids that help keep Pitbulls’ coats healthy.
Calcium: Cheese can help with bone and tooth development in Pitbulls.
Vitamins: Cheese contains vitamins, including A, B2 (riboflavin), B12 (cobalamin), and D. Vitamin A is especially important for eye health and bone growth, while riboflavin helps break down carbohydrates and fats, cobalamin helps maintain nerve cells, and vitamin D is crucial for bone strength.
Training tools: The smell of cheese can be helpful when training Pitbulls to do certain tricks or tasks.
Concealing pills: If your Pitbull doesn’t like swallowing pills, cheese makes an excellent vehicle for administering pills.
Do all Pitbulls like cheese?
Unfortunately, not all Pitbulls like cheese. Pitbulls have food preferences just as we do, and sometimes they can be kind of picky. If you’ve noticed your Pitbull doesn’t like cheese, try a few other Pitbull-safe options like peanut butter, blueberries, or carrots. If it turns out your Pitbull isn’t into any of these foods either, talk to your vet first before introducing any other new foods to make sure there isn’t an underlying health issue that could cause the lack of interest.
Of course, don’t force feed your Pitbull—they’ll eat when they’re hungry!
Can my Pitbulls have cheese every day?
The short answer to your question is NO. We don’t recommend cheese as a daily treat for your Pitbull.
A few reasons: first, Pitbulls get bored with the same treat day in and day out, so we suggest varying the treats you give them. Second, different treats contain different ingredients, and some of those ingredients are more appropriate for a Pitbull than others. And third, because of the varying ingredients and nutritional content of Pitbull treats, it’s important to ensure that you’re meeting your Pitbull’s dietary needs by rotating their snacks rather than just providing one particular type of snack all the time.
Can Pitbull puppies eat cheese?
As long as your Pitbull puppy is over two months old, cheese is a great snack to give her as a training tool, and it’s much healthier for her than processed Pitbull treats. Just be careful to start with just a small bite of cheese at first. All puppies have delicate digestive systems and can get sick from sudden changes in diet, so you should consult with your vet before introducing any new food to your puppy’s diet.
How much cheese can Pitbulls eat?
While cheese is certainly a tasty treat for your Pitbull, it’s important to remember that many Pitbulls are lactose intolerant, so you should always consult your vet before feeding your Pitbull any dairy products.
The amount of cheese depends on the age, size, and lactose tolerance level of your Pitbull (which can vary breed to breed). You may give a small piece of cheese as a treat, but if there are no negative reactions you can offer more. If your Pitbull has diarrhea after eating the cheese, it means they are lactose intolerant and can’t tolerate a high-dairy diet.
But portion control is important for your Pitbull’s diet, including treats. A good rule of thumb is the 90/10 rule: 90% healthy foods and 10% treats.
What kind of cheese can Pitbulls eat?
-Mozzarella: it’s low in fat, so it won’t cause your Pitbull to gain weight and reduce the likelihood of pancreatitis.
-Cottage cheese: also low in fat, cottage cheese is a solid option for any Pitbull.
-Swiss cheese: low in lactose, which can be hard for Pitbulls to digest.
-Cheddar: low levels of salts, cheddar is a good option for a salty treat.
-String cheese: low levels of lactose and salt. However, the stringiness of string cheese could cause trouble swallowing, so break it into bite-sized pieces before giving it to your pup!
What types of cheese are bad for Pitbulls?
Blue cheese contains Stilton fungus, which produces a substance called Roquefortine C. When Pitbulls eat Roquefortine C, they may experience tremors, seizures, and vomiting.
Goat cheese contains more lactose than cow’s milk. If your Pitbull consumes too much lactose, it can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.
Cheesecake is primarily made from cream cheese and other dairy products. Dairy is high in fat and can cause pancreatitis if consumed in large quantities.
Cream cheese is also high in fats, which can lead to obesity if consumed regularly.
Parmesan cheese is high in sodium, which can lead to salt poisoning or electrolyte imbalance if consumed in large quantities.
Cheese puffs are loaded with fat and sodium. Too many of these snacks can cause your Pitbull to gain weight or become ill.
How to serve cheese to your Pitbulls?
Cheese is a great way to add nutrients to your Pitbull’s diet, and they love it! What better way to mix in a little more deliciousness than with cheese? There are various ways to serve cheese to your Pitbulls. You can serve it as it is in small pieces, mix it with your Pitbull’s regular food, or even make cheese sauce.
A sprinkle of cheese makes a nice food topper for Pitbulls. You can also mix it with rice for that extra flavor. Equal parts of cooked white rice and cottage cheese make a good meal that’s easy on the stomach because of its bland taste. You can pour cheese sauce over harder Pitbull foods if they can’t chew them well.
What are the risks of feeding cheese to your Pitbull?
While it might be tempting to share some of your favorite cheese with your Pitbull, it’s important to understand that there are several potential health risks involved in feeding cheese to your pets.
First, many cheeses are high in fat. This can lead to pancreatitis, which is a painful inflammation of the pancreas. Cheese is also very dense in calories and therefore can contribute to obesity if you overfeed it.
Many Pitbulls are lactose intolerant and therefore cannot digest the milk sugars present in cheese. If your Pitbull has a severe lactose intolerance, it can cause diarrhea, bloating, vomiting, and weight loss.
Some cheeses may also contain toxic additives such as garlic, onion or salt that can be harmful in large amounts. For example, garlic is toxic to Pitbulls because it destroys red blood cells and causes anemia (low red blood cell count).
Other human foods Pitbulls can eat
What other human foods can Pitbulls eat? Here is a list of some other human foods your Pitbulls can eat.
So, can Pitbulls eat cheese?
Yes, Pitbulls can eat cheese. However, not all cheese is created equal. There are some types of cheese that you should never feed to your Pitbull (for example, blue cheese) and some that are okay in small quantities (like cheddar).
Cheese is rich in protein and calcium, making it an excellent treat for Pitbulls. However, don’t overfeed your Pitbull cheese.
There is a 90/10 rule when feeding your Pitbull human food, meaning that 90% of your Pitbull’s diet should comprise his regular food and only 10% should come from treats.